The Exciting World of Laser Therapy for Pets

June 6, 2018
by
Bayside Animal Hospital Staff

No pet parent wants their four-legged friends to suffer, and making sure they are receiving adequate pain relief and are being given the best possible chance at healing following an injury is an important part of pet ownership. At Bayside Animal Hospital, helping patients recover quickly, efficiently, and with as little pain as possible is important to us, too. Laser therapy is part of that equation.

Laser therapy for pets is growing in popularity as a safe and effective way to promote healing and reduce pain, and we are excited to share the news about this wonderful technology with our readers!

How Veterinary Laser Therapy Works

Lasers are essentially beams of light that travel at a specific frequency, which allows it to penetrate tissues. The light energy particles within the laser beam, called photons, are targeted at a wound, suture site, or painful/swollen area of the body. The photons are absorbed into the cells where they stimulate positive changes in the tissue, including:

Decreased inflammation and swelling

Reduction in pain

Increased blood flow to the target area

Increased healing

Relaxation of muscles

Increased oxygenation of the tissue

Reduction of harmful bacteria

Laser Therapy for Pets

Because there are no known side effects of laser therapy for pets, it can be of benefit to almost any pet who has pain, inflammation, or is healing from an injury or from surgery. Some of the many conditions that can be benefited by laser therapy for pets include:

Wounds and fractures

Sprains and ligament tears

Postoperative recovery

Arthritis/joint issue

Hip dysplasia

Intervertebral disc disease

Allergies

Ear and sinus infections

Skin conditions

This non-invasive treatment can also be used on exotic pets who may not be able (or willing) to take medication, such as birds, lizards, guinea pigs, and more. Laser therapy is regularly used for birds of prey and other wildlife.

The Next Steps

Depending on your pet’s needs, we will establish a pain management and healing plan that includes laser therapy and any other appropriate therapeutic approaches. Most sessions last roughly 5-15 minutes, with healing and pain reducing effects continuing over the next 24-48 hours. The number of treatments your pet will need depend on the situation, but many pets derive significant benefits within the first few sessions.

If your pet is struggling with chronic pain or discomfort, or recovering from an injury, please contact the team at Bayside to learn more about the benefits of laser therapy for pets. We would love to help your pet heal faster and feel better.

We Our Clients

I love the crew at bay side animal hospital! They are always so nice, and you can tell they love what they do! — Christa William

Dr. Shepherd & his staff are awesome!!! He is always there when my animals need him no matter what & they just love him! We wouldn't go anywhere else! :) — Mindy Taylor

Everyone always acts like my yellow lab, Ben, arriving has made their day. Seeing Ben, even though he's an old boy at 12 years old, can't wait to go in when we get there makes it evident he has no fear of visiting and knows he's going to have a positive experinece. I can't recommend them highly enough. — Richard Grimes

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